SoupOrSam wrote:Regardless of system, I miss the character of the Armstrong, Talbot seasons where they would get down in the game and dig in. You never felt those teams were out of it. The character of this team when they get down, yes, pointing at CROSBY & MALKIN, is very undesirable. I want some MIKE RICHARDS leadership.

Ok, I'm kidding about the last sentence.

There is a lack of leadership. Look how the team reacts when they don't get their way. There has been a lack of leadership for some time now. Nothing changes though...

SoupOrSam wrote:Regardless of system, I miss the character of the Armstrong, Talbot seasons where they would get down in the game and dig in. You never felt those teams were out of it. The character of this team when they get down, yes, pointing at CROSBY & MALKIN, is very undesirable. I want some MIKE RICHARDS leadership.

Ok, I'm kidding about the last sentence.

There is a lack of leadership. Look how the team reacts when they don't get their way. There has been a lack of leadership for some time now. Nothing changes though...

Matthew Monstar wrote:What a joke, really can't beat a mediocre talented team like New Jersey? They have a few good players, mediocre defense, older goaltending and win based on their system. Such a shame.

You know they went to the finals last year, right?

The Devils remind me so much of the Wings when they were dominant a couple years back. Nothing flashy, just extremely smart hockey. Guys are always well positioned and they do all the little things right. It's terribly frustrating. They seem to always outman the Pens, regardless of where the play is.

In a fluke filled playoffs last year where the teams that should have succeeded, failed, New Jersey got to the finals.

Ok, you win. Obviously it's just my opinion on their team. That their system style wins them games more-so then their caliber of talent. Never said they were an AHL team, just that they were not a team filled with high end talent... Which is true, but chew me out all you want.

Obviously having high end talent doesn't mean automatic victories or the Penguins would be undefeated.

The team should just not be outworked and lose battles to this team, especially losing consecutively as we're battling with New Jersey primarily right now for the division.

/Lack of hockey IQ,

"Fluke filled" would probably describe EVERY Stanley Cup Playoffs. They did go through the President's Trophy winners to get there too.

They are a hard working, smart, well coached team, that's all that really needs to be said. It's terribly frustrating. I know.

- Devils defense is mediocre on paper. Zidlicky is very inconsistent defensively, Salvador is old and slow and has never been better than a 6. Andy Greene, once an offensive guy, has been molded into their best shutdown d-man. Volchenkov is pretty ineffective at this point in his career, he has a lot of mileage on him. They made it work last year, they're making it work right now though. Credit to Pete DeBoer and his staff.

- People complain that they aren't forechecking well and they aren't grinding ******* down in the second game of a back-to-back in this hyper season. 48 games in 99 days, ignoring practices and travel and life, isn't terribly easy. Tough to get 110% of high octane energy from everyone, every night. Games and ice time must be managed properly at all positions (ex.: Fleury, no back-to-back games so far this year; roster always at 23 - max).

- Issues with backhands. Handedness being misused is leading to goals/chances against. Players like Engelland playing their off-side, meaning they have to keep pucks in on their backhand. Difficult for players with skill, a chore for players without it. Adjustments must be made, as having players play their off-side in a system like this is not very sustainable.

- I didn't think Orpik played that 2-on-1 too badly really. Kovy has a nasty release, ideally you want to get your stick in that lane when a player commits to the shot, but Kovy is a world class player...he's damned if he do, damned if he don't there. 2-on-1's are not a natural part of the game, they are caused by error.

- Clarkson isn't that good of a player to be honest, but I guess he's going to get that "grass is always greener" following now that he's scored a couple of against us.

- People say "all alone in front" that's modern defense. You don't see that battle 1-on-1 in front as much like you used to. It used to be a war of cross checks at the top of the blue paint, but that's largely dead. Instead the two d-men get out in front of that player and basically play goalie. It's believed that two players can prevent that puck from getting through to the one guy and it isolates him in no man's land, effectively making it 4 on 4 or 4.5 on 4 on the rest of the ice when the PK team doesn't have possession. Obviously, when the puck finds it way back there, it looks silly (I guess...), but you're only looking at results rather than the formulation of a goal.

SoupOrSam wrote:Regardless of system, I miss the character of the Armstrong, Talbot seasons where they would get down in the game and dig in. You never felt those teams were out of it. The character of this team when they get down, yes, pointing at CROSBY & MALKIN, is very undesirable. I want some MIKE RICHARDS leadership.

Ok, I'm kidding about the last sentence.

There is a lack of leadership. Look how the team reacts when they don't get their way. There has been a lack of leadership for some time now. Nothing changes though...

Need a Guerin type trade deadline pickup huh? Who do you propose?

This one guy from the Flames...

That wouldn't surprise me. They seem to endless cap space.Hate to say it but I think Iginla will end up in Philly.

This team is all finese and no grind. I don't like seeig that. Guys like Kunitz, Dupuis, Neal, Cooke, Kennedy, Glass, Adams, and even Vitale seem to have forgotten the physical sides of their games. The Pens are super easy to play against and against a team as systematically sound as the Devils it doesn't translate to success.

SoupOrSam wrote:Regardless of system, I miss the character of the Armstrong, Talbot seasons where they would get down in the game and dig in. You never felt those teams were out of it. The character of this team when they get down, yes, pointing at CROSBY & MALKIN, is very undesirable. I want some MIKE RICHARDS leadership.

Ok, I'm kidding about the last sentence.

There is a lack of leadership. Look how the team reacts when they don't get their way. There has been a lack of leadership for some time now. Nothing changes though...

Need a Guerin type trade deadline pickup huh? Who do you propose?

This one guy from the Flames...

Would be nice to land a Flames package deal (Iginla/Glencross)!

What would they have to give up for that deal? It isn't like Iginla is in his prime... Seems like mortgaging your future to me.

Pavel Bure wrote:This team is all finese and no grind. I don't like seeig that. Guys like Kunitz, Dupuis, Neal, Cooke, Kennedy, Glass, Adams, and even Vitale seem to have forgotten the physical sides of their games. The Pens are super easy to play against and against a team as systematically sound as the Devils it doesn't translate to success.